JIC RELEASE NO. 939 - DPHSS Issues COVID-19 Screening Guide Memorandum - GHS OCD

Diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, remains a critical component to the overall strategy for COVID-19. Recent testing has put enormous strain on laboratory supplies and the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) has faced unprecedented testing demand to detect and respond to all suspected and confirmed cases in a timely manner.

DPHSS continues to support diagnostic testing for COVID-19 but will be prioritizing COVID-19 testing to target individuals with a likelihood of severe disease, hospitalization, or death due to COVID-19.

DPHSS’s Screening Guide Memorandum further adjusts the criteria for who may get tested for COVID-19 using a checklist:

1. Are you experiencing COVID-19 Symptoms? If YES, PROCEED to test

Symptoms may include:

Fever or Chills	Headache	Shortness of breath	Muscle or body aches
Cough	Sore Throat	Difficulty breathing	Congestion or runny nose
Fatigue	Diarrhea	New loss of taste or smell	Nausea or vomiting

If individual reports any of the following symptoms, seek emergency care immediately or call 911:

a. Trouble breathing

b. Persistent pain or pressure in the chest

c. New confusion

d. Inability to wake or stay awake

e. Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, or nail beds, depending on skin tone

2. Are you a High-Risk Close Contact? If YES, PROCEED to test

High-Risk Close Contacts

Pregnant individuals; or

Age 65 and older; or

Age 50 and older, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, with at least one comorbidity (see COMORBID CHART)

COMORBID CHART

Chronic Kidney Disease (kidney failure, dialysis	Heart Disease or high-blood pressure
Obese or overweight	Diabetes
Dependance on medical technology (tracheostomy, gastrostomy, pacemaker, etc.)	Chronic Lung Disease (COPD, asthma, etc.)
Immunosuppressive condition or treatment (such as cancer)	Chronic Liver Disease (cirrhosis, hepatitis, etc.)
Substance Abuse (Current or Former)	Smoker (Current or Former)
Mental Health Condition	Neurological disorder (down-syndrome, cerebral-palsy, dementia, Alzheimer’s)

NOTE: Individual must simply reply YES and is not required to state their medical condition.

3. Are you a Government of Guam employee submitting for testing pursuant to Executive Order 2021-17? If YES, PROCEED to test (refer to DOA Circular 2021-025D)

This memorandum applies to DPHSS Community Test Sites, Community Health Centers funded in part by Health Resources and Services Administration (“HRSA”) under the Health Center Program, and Community Testing Partners in the use of testing supplies provided by DPHSS.

The use of testing supplies provided by DPHSS for the intended purpose of travel clearance is not authorized unless administered to individuals who are referred for off-island medical treatment or by Community Health Centers under the HRSA Health Center Program.

Click here to view DPHSS MEMO - SCREENING GUIDE FOR COMM TEST SITES, COMM TESTING PARTNERS, AND CHC (01-28-22)

X Flooding is a temporary overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry. Flooding may happen with only a few inches of water, or it may cover a house to the rooftop. There are many possible causes of floods including heavy rain, coastal storms and storm surge, waterway overflow from being blocked with debris, or overflow of levees, dams, or waste water systems. Flooding can occur slowly over many days or happen very quickly with little or no warning, called flash floods.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/floods

Wildfire

Regularly clean the roof and gutters.
Maintain an area approximately 30’ away from you home that is free of anything that will burn, such as wood piles, dried leaves, newspapers and other brush.
Connect garden hoses long enough to reach any area of the home and fill garbage cans, tubs, or other large containers with water.
Review your homeowner's insurance policy and also prepare/update a list of your home's contents.

Fire Weather

Turn on your TV/radio. You’ll get the latest weather updates and emergency instructions.
Know where to go. If you are ordered to evacuate, know the route to take and have plan of where you will go. Check-in with your friends and family.
Keep your car fueled, in good condition, and stocked with emergency supplies and a change of clothes.

Drought

Conserve water

Take shorter showers.

Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving.
Run the washer less frequently and only when you have a full load.
Water your lawn less frequently and do so when the temperature is cooler in the early morning or late evening.
When you run the tap to heat or cool water, keep a pitcher to store the water and use it to water plants.
Avoid washing your car.

Practice fire prevention

Don't set off fireworks when conditions are dry.
Deposit cigarette butts in the proper receptacle to avoid starting a
Pour water over camp fires and backyard fire pits to ensure they are completely out before leaving them unattended.

Follow directions from local officials. If there are restrictions on water usage, be sure to heed them.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/wildfires and https://www.ready.gov/drought

X
Typhoons/Hurricanes are massive storm systems that form over the water and move toward land. Threats from typhoons/hurricanes include high winds, heavy rainfall, storm surge, coastal and inland flooding, and rip currents.

“Hurricanes” form in the Atlantic Northeast Pacific region and “Typhoons” form in the Northwest Pacific Region. These large storms are call cyclones in other parts of the world.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.

JIC RELEASE NO. 939 - DPHSS Issues COVID-19 Screening Guide Memorandum